Long live physical media! Little ways to start being more "analog" in your daily life

Hello dear reader, 

So I've been kind of in to "retro" tech and media for a while now. I collect vinyl records, I still listen to CD's and my Manga bookshelves are overflowing with volumes. I even listen to an ipod pretty regularly! 

Recently, there seems to be a divide between the digital world and the analog world. Are things like paperback books and games on a discs really a thing of the past? Companies like Sony seem to think so, as they have announced their plan to stop disc production for their games starting 2028.

This has me and many others feeling uneasy. What about those of us who want to own the disc? 

A lot of people think "what's the point?" And yeah, I get it. The convenience of just having everything loaded onto the console or a film readily available to stream is really nice. But there's something special about owning your movies, games, music, whatever it may be. 

I'm tired of feeling like nothing but a statistic to sell something to. We can't truly own something digital, it only exists as long as the companies host it on a server somewhere. They can really just delete it from existence if they wanted to. And it sucks...

I like owning my stuff. Not just because I know I have it for whenever I want it, but I just like to have the box on my shelf. I like seeing my library of manga and movies. It feels good to have all the D&D books I'll ever need to play. No updates, no rule changes, no online discourse in the way. Whats in the book is whats in the book. 

What is "analog?" 

In context we arent talking about the literal definition, but the more recent usage of the word. I interpret going analog as doing things offline and away from social media as much as possible. 

You might be wondering...how can I start going "analog" in my daily life?

I'm not saying what I do is perfect, nor am i saying i am 100% analog/100% physical media only. But, I myself am always looking for more ways to get offline. (I say as I type on my smartphone to update my blog, lol) but if anyone doesnt really know how to get started, heres some things I do that you could try to get started. 

(No bean soup theory here, if you like it you like it, if you dont you dont.)

1. Opt in to using a piece of physical media over something online when you can. Something as simple as listening to my ipod or CD's in my car on my way to and from work can make me feel a little more intentional about the music I listen to. I bring a volume of manga or a book with me to keep me busy if its slow at work or if I'm in the dentist office waiting room. At least I have the option to do something other than scrolling on my phone. 

2. Start your collection by shopping 2nd hand. Whether its books, movies, or music, I always recommend getting something 2nd hand when you can. Its normally cheaper first off--which makes starting a collection a lot easier. Lots of my manga collection was bought 2nd hand at places like half price books, or online somewhere like ebay or thriftbooks. Depending on what you're looking for, it can be pretty affordable. Some stuff thats more collectable might be hard to find for a good price, but thats the thrill of the hunt sometimes. 

By the way, half price books is where i get TONS of my physical media. One of my favorite things to do is go get a coffee, and browse the CD's and movies section. I only recently started collecting dvds and blurays, so my collection is still small. I am trying to be very intentional about my purchases though, that way my collection is a reflection of my taste, not just a bunch of random stuff. Being intentional about what you are adding to your collection is crucial!! If you dont have a CD player and dont want to listen to CD's, dont buy them! Focus your time and effort collecting things you will actually appreciate and use. 

3. Look into getting an ipod or mp3! Ebay has tons of restored ones for a decent price. I stil have my original ipod from high school, and it still works!! I did buy a 2nd one on ebay to have one for every day. While an ipod isnt physical media, the way i see it is if I'm listening to music on my ipod I'm listening to music OFFLINE and its music that I curated myself. You can get an external disc drive for your computer and load your CD collection onto your ipod to listen offline and on the go!

3. Do things in the quiet. 

This may sound awkward at first but dont always have something going on in the background. It doesnt really have anything to do with going analog necessarily but it is an important piece of the puzzle. 

When i was a kid in the 90s and 00s there wasnt always background noise when I was doing stuff. I think as ive gotten older and times have changed I have gotten used to having things constantly on in the background of whatever it is I'm doing. Thats something I'm actively trying to change. I have a much easier time focusing on what I'm doing when I dont have background noise...i can remember the chapter in the book i just read a lot better and give it my full attention instead of half listening to a show and half reading a book. 

Or even when you go to listen to a vinyl record. I am of the belief vinyl records are best enjoyed front to back with nothing but a cup of coffee in hand. Albums often have themes and stories the artist is trying to tell, and you can understand it so much better when you really sit down and listen to the whole thing and appreciate the work in full. Have you ever sat down and listened to The Black Parade in full before? You should. Thats our generations The Wall. There's something so special about listening to music on a record...its truly magical. For me at least. Plus there are some super cool vinyl variants being put out these days for all kinds of music. Like yes I want to listen to the ATLA Book 1 soundtrack on vinyl!! 

3. Use more single purpose devices.

Back in the old days we had digital cameras we'd bring with us everywhere with one sole purpose: take pictures for MySpace. While sadly MySpace is no more, you can still enjoy picture taking with a little digital camera or even a disposable camera. Or hell i know you probably have one of those fujifilm Polaroid cameras collecting dust in a closet somewhere. 

Having a device with one purpose helps bring more thoughtfulness and intention to what you're taking pictures of. Things like snapchat and Instagram stories have sort of made picture taking super casual, which is fine, but why do I have more pictures of my iced coffees than I do with my friends these days? 

I for one love old cameras, and i love the different vibes and looks you get from different types of cameras. Especially film...there is something so special about getting film developed and seeing your pictures for the first time. Making those memories and having those precious photos to look back on is fare more special than what you'll ever post online. And most places now that develop film also digitize your photos, so you CAN still post them on social media if you want!  And there is nothing wrong with that. Which brings me to my final point. 

4. Dont put pressure on yourself. 

It takes time to build up a collection thats meaningful. And there's no point in any of it if you dont enjoy it. Dont compare yourself to others, dont worry about who else has a big vintage collection, or what others would think about yours. The most important thing is to enjoy doing things offline when you can, and owning your favorite games, movies, books, and music. As long as you are happy with what you've got going on, thats the most important thing. Have fun with it, and be connected with yourself. 

Listen...you shouldnt get into new hobbies if it doesnt truly interest you. If you like your digital library, or if you have hours upon hours of carefully curated playlists on your favorite streaming app, thats valid. I also still use streaming apps just like most people. I have a kobo ereader and i love it, while also loving the feeling of a book in my hand. 

But the difference is that the things that live on my shelf will be there regardless they're on Netflix or not in 10 years. 

Those photos I took on my polaroid are special and hold memories an instagram story never could. The music i listen to in my car every day is music I took the time to burn onto my computer and put on the ipod specifically for me.

Its intentional, and its me.  Its 100% authentic me...and i dont want that to stop being able to grow and change just because some big corporations dont see the value in making things on discs anymore. 

That's all for now. 

Thank you for reading, if you did! 

Should I post more about my various collections? I probably will, so i hope you enjoyed my little tangent. And if you take anything from my stream of thoughts, I hope that its important to be intentional about the media you choose to fill your time with.

-E